Campaign Life Coalition applauds Manitoba govt. for defending pro-life free speech
WINNIPEG, Oct. 15, 2021 – Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) applauds the Manitoba government for defeating the NDP's proposed censorship legislation, Bill 207, which sought to strip pro-life advocates of their right to free speech and to peacefully assemble outside abortion facilities to witness to the sanctity of human life.
"We congratulate Progressive Conservative MLAs for defeating this bill by a vote of 30 to 20 that specifically targeted pro-life speech. Censorious 'bubble zone' legislation has no place in a free and democratic society," said CLC Manitoba President Maria Slykerman. "By voting to shut down this anti-free speech and pro-abortion bill, the Manitoba legislature has upheld fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to free speech and expression, and the right to peaceful assembly."
"Bill 207 (the Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Act), which claimed to be about preventing harassment of pregnant mothers entering an abortion facility, was actually focused on criminalizing anti-abortion voices and denying these mothers the right to know about alternatives to abortion, such as adoption. Bubble-zones unfairly vilify people who offer women the support they need to carry their babies to term," Slykerman continued.
Josie Luetke, CLC's Youth Coordinator, pointed out that Manitoba has done what other provinces have failed to do in protecting the free speech rights of pro-life advocates.
"Now that Manitoba has shown principled leadership on free speech, we urge Premiers Ford in Ontario and Kenney in Alberta to follow suit by introducing government bills to repeal similar legislation that censors pro-life speech and criminalizes the constitutionally-protected actions of pro-life citizens," she said.
About Campaign Life Coalition
Campaign Life Coalition is a national, non-profit organization involved in political action and advocacy for legal and cultural change in Canada with respect to protecting human life & the family. For more info visit www.campaignlifecoalition.com.
Media Contacts
Jeff Gunnarson, President, Campaign Life Coalition, 519-835-8201, [email protected]
Josie Luetke, Youth Coordinator, Campaign Life Coalition, 416-204-9749, [email protected]
-30-